diff --git a/hw/hppa/machine.c b/hw/hppa/machine.c
index a1045b48cc..eb78c46ff1 100644
--- a/hw/hppa/machine.c
+++ b/hw/hppa/machine.c
@@ -362,14 +362,13 @@ static void machine_HP_common_init_tail(MachineState *machine, PCIBus *pci_bus,
     }
 
     /* Network setup. */
-    if (nd_table[0].used && enable_lasi_lan()) {
+    if (lasi_dev) {
         lasi_82596_init(addr_space, translate(NULL, LASI_LAN_HPA),
-                        qdev_get_gpio_in(lasi_dev, LASI_IRQ_LAN_HPA));
+                        qdev_get_gpio_in(lasi_dev, LASI_IRQ_LAN_HPA),
+                        enable_lasi_lan());
     }
 
-    if (!enable_lasi_lan()) {
-        pci_init_nic_devices(pci_bus, mc->default_nic);
-    }
+    pci_init_nic_devices(pci_bus, mc->default_nic);
 
     /* BMC board: HP Powerbar SP2 Diva (with console only) */
     pci_dev = pci_new(-1, "pci-serial");
diff --git a/hw/net/lasi_i82596.c b/hw/net/lasi_i82596.c
index 09e830ba5f..fcf7fae941 100644
--- a/hw/net/lasi_i82596.c
+++ b/hw/net/lasi_i82596.c
@@ -118,19 +118,21 @@ static void lasi_82596_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     i82596_common_init(dev, s, &net_lasi_82596_info);
 }
 
-SysBusI82596State *lasi_82596_init(MemoryRegion *addr_space,
-                  hwaddr hpa, qemu_irq lan_irq)
+SysBusI82596State *lasi_82596_init(MemoryRegion *addr_space, hwaddr hpa,
+                                   qemu_irq lan_irq, gboolean match_default)
 {
     DeviceState *dev;
     SysBusI82596State *s;
     static const MACAddr HP_MAC = {
         .a = { 0x08, 0x00, 0x09, 0xef, 0x34, 0xf6 } };
 
-    qemu_check_nic_model(&nd_table[0], TYPE_LASI_82596);
-    dev = qdev_new(TYPE_LASI_82596);
+    dev = qemu_create_nic_device(TYPE_LASI_82596, match_default, "lasi");
+    if (!dev) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     s = SYSBUS_I82596(dev);
     s->state.irq = lan_irq;
-    qdev_set_nic_properties(dev, &nd_table[0]);
     sysbus_realize_and_unref(SYS_BUS_DEVICE(dev), &error_fatal);
     s->state.conf.macaddr = HP_MAC; /* set HP MAC prefix */
 
diff --git a/include/hw/net/lasi_82596.h b/include/hw/net/lasi_82596.h
index 3ef2f47ba2..439356ec19 100644
--- a/include/hw/net/lasi_82596.h
+++ b/include/hw/net/lasi_82596.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ struct SysBusI82596State {
     int val_index:1;
 };
 
-SysBusI82596State *lasi_82596_init(MemoryRegion *addr_space,
-                                    hwaddr hpa, qemu_irq irq);
+SysBusI82596State *lasi_82596_init(MemoryRegion *addr_space, hwaddr hpa,
+                                   qemu_irq irq, gboolean match_default);
 
 #endif